A new report from the American Civil Liberties Union has put the spotlight on the increase in inmates ages 50 and up. The following states have the largest population of aging inmates. Each slide also shows how much those inmates make up the total prison population in those areas.

A new report from the American Civil Liberties Union has put the spotlight on the increase in inmates ages 50 and up. The following states have the largest population of aging inmates. Each slide also shows how ... more

According to the ACLU report, many aging prisoners are incarcerated for nonviolent crimes, but does the same hold true for Texas? Using 2011 data from the state, here are the crimes aging Texas inmates have been convicted of. less

According to the ACLU report, many aging prisoners are incarcerated for nonviolent crimes, but does the same hold true for Texas? Using 2011 data from the state, here are the crimes aging Texas inmates have ... more

Photo: Andrew Burton, Getty Images

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Crime:

ViolentPercentage: 35 percent

Crime:

ViolentPercentage: 35 percent

Photo: SKIP DICKSTEIN

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Crime:

PropertyPercentage: 13 percent

Crime:

PropertyPercentage: 13 percent

Photo: Paul Sakuma, Associated Press

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Crime:

DrugsPercentage: 18 percent

Crime:

DrugsPercentage: 18 percent

Photo: Martin Mejia, STF

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Crime:

OtherPercentage: 34 percent

Crime:

OtherPercentage: 34 percent

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ACLU study: Aging prisoners on the rise in U.S.

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Prisoners across the U.S. are getting older and that's creating a problem for incarceration-happy states like Texas, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.

Aside from the ethical issues with incarcerating people who are 50+, the ACLU argues it costs more to house these kinds of prisoners versus younger ones. To put it in context:

The average American household makes around $40,000 a year. Housing an aging inmate costs $68,270 a year on average.

Based on the data the ACLU presents, Texas imprisons 27,455 aging prisoners, which is 17.7 percent of our total prison population. Between 1992 and 2007, Texas experienced a 110 percent growth in the number of aging inmates.

Texas was beat out by several other Southern states, including Louisiana, which very nearly hit 200 percent.